How to beat Sierra in Pokémon Go in September 2024

Secure victory with the help of these counters

Niantic

Sierra once again takes part in a Pokémon Go Rocket Takeover and is equipped with a fresh team of Pokémon to fulfill her dark plans. You’ll need to overcome this cunning opponent if you want to get your chance at defeating Giovanni in September 2024, liberating many Shadow Pokémon in the process.

Table of Contents

1. Sierra’s Pokémon in September 2024 – Pokémon Go
2. Best counters to Carvanha – Pokémon Go Sierra
3. Best counters to Sableye – Pokémon Go Sierra
4. Best counters to Ampharos – Pokémon Go Sierra
5. Best counters to Milotic – Pokémon Go Sierra
6. Best counters to Houndoom – Pokémon Go Sierra
7. Best counters to Nidoqueen – Pokémon Go Sierra
8. Best counters to Alakazam – Pokémon Go Sierra

Just like her colleagues, Sierra only shows up if you have an active Rocket Radar, which you need to construct by farming Mysterious Parts from grunts or completing research tasks. Once it’s activated, you can encounter Arlo, Cliff, or Sierra at PokéStops or on Rocket Balloons. Defeating all three Team Go Rocket bosses enables you to face off against Giovanni at last.

This guide will tell you how to beat Sierra in Pokémon Go in 2024.

Sierra’s Pokémon in September 2024 – Pokémon Go

Sierra is guaranteed to send Shadow Carvanha into battle first. Her second and third team slots are flexible, however, with three different Pokémon being available for each position.

• Slot #1: Carvanha
• Slot #2: Sableye / Ampharos / Milotic
• Slot #3: Houndoom / Nidoqueen / Alakazam

Best counters to Carvanha – Pokémon Go Sierra

Carvanha is guaranteed to be Sierra's starter. / Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Carvanha is susceptible to many kinds of attacks and some of them offer potential synergies further down the line: Opting for a Grass- or Electric-type will cover Milotic in the second slot, while Fairy could cover Sableye in the second slot and Bug could cover Alakazam in the third slot.

• Xurkitree (Electric): Thunder Shock, Power Whip, Dazzling Gleam
• Kartana (Grass, Steel): Razor Leaf, Leaf Blade, X-Scissor
• Zarude (Grass, Dark): Vine Whip, Power Whip, Dark Pulse

Best counters to Sableye – Pokémon Go Sierra

Sableye is a potential second pick for Sierra. / Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Sableye, being both a Dark- and a Ghost-type, only calls Fairy-type attacks a true weakness.

• Togekiss (Fairy, Flying): Charm, Dazzling Gleam, Aura Sphere
• Gardevoir (Fairy, Psychic): Charm, Dazzling Gleam, Psychic
• Xurkitree (Electric): Thunder Shock, Dazzling Gleam, Power Whip

Best counters to Ampharos – Pokémon Go Sierra

Ampharos is a potential second pick for Sierra. / Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Ampharos is an easy one to counter, as only Ground-type attacks deal additional damage to it – luckily, those can be used against Houndoom and Nidoqueen in the third slot as well.

• Groudon (Ground): Mud Shot, Precipice Blades, Earthquake
• Garchomp (Ground, Dragon): Mud Shot, Earth Power, Earthquake
• Excadrill (Ground, Steel): Mud-Slap, Scorching Sands, Earthquake

Best counters to Milotic – Pokémon Go Sierra

Milotic is a potential second pick for Sierra. / Niantic / The Pokémon Company

You can use your Carvanha counters to deal with Milotic as well, should it be fielded.

• Xurkitree (Electric): Thunder Shock, Power Whip, Dazzling Gleam
• Kartana (Grass, Steel): Razor Leaf, Leaf Blade, X-Scissor
• Zarude (Grass, Dark): Vine Whip, Power Whip, Dark Pulse

Best counters to Houndoom – Pokémon Go Sierra

Houndoom is a potential third pick for Sierra. / Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Houndoom, Sierra's signature Pokémon, offers one obvious weakness overlap you can exploit: Ground-type attacks.

• Groudon (Ground): Mud Shot, Precipice Blades, Earthquake
• Garchomp (Ground, Dragon): Mud Shot, Earth Power, Earthquake
• Excadrill (Ground, Steel): Mud-Slap, Scorching Sands, Earthquake

Best counters to Nidoqueen – Pokémon Go Sierra

Nidoqueen is a potential third pick for Sierra. / Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Though the queen has other weaknesses, you can easily cover her with Ground-type moves as well.

• Groudon (Ground): Mud Shot, Precipice Blades, Earthquake
• Garchomp (Ground, Dragon): Mud Shot, Earth Power, Earthquake
• Excadrill (Ground, Steel): Mud-Slap, Scorching Sands, Earthquake

Best counters to Alakazam – Pokémon Go Sierra

Alakazam is a potential third pick for Sierra. / Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Alakazam may be Sierra's strongest option this time around, but you should be able to scrape together enough force to overcome it, focusing on Bug-, Dark-, and Ghost-type attacks – that’s why we’ve chosen very specific Pokémon and move sets to deal with Carvanha at the start.

• Xurkitree (Electric): Thunder Shock, Power Whip, Dazzling Gleam
• Kartana (Grass, Steel): Razor Leaf, Leaf Blade, X-Scissor
• Zarude (Grass, Dark): Vine Whip, Power Whip, Dark Pulse

For more Pokémon Go, check out the overviews of the monthly Spotlight Hours and 5-Star Raids.